BeautyRevealed | The Blog of Melissa J. Dillon

“May you have warm words on a cold evening…”

- An Irish Blessing

(Wordle.net)

“Words are the voice of the heart.”

- Winston Churchill

(Make your own wordle at www.wordle.net. It’s fun!)

“A baby is a little bit of heaven on earth.”

1. Jackson is the four-month-old baby that I started taking care of today. 

2. Jackson voted for “Uncle” Mark as his new best friend. 

3. Jackson thinks that “Uncle” Mark tastes like chicken.

4. Jackson holds the record for loudest crier… ever. 

5. Jackson likes to watch “Winnie the Pooh” movies with his new best friend. 

6. Jackson claims he won a contest for “World’s Chubbiest Cheeks” (we believe him).

7. Jackson insists that drool is cool.

8. Jackson’s favorite book is “The Very Hungry Caterpillar”. 

9. Jackson looks completely adorable in “Uncle” Mark’s arms!! (He’s gonna make a good daddy someday!)

10. Jackson is going to be such a sweet little buddy to have around!

(Just in case anyone decides they want to be extra generous on my birthday this year.☺)

“Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens…

these are a few of my favorite things.”

- Julie Andrews

Here is the stage where winter gets really long. We’ve already had more than enough of it, but there is a grim realization that there is plenty more to come. Last night when Mark and I were driving home in the frigid cold, we voted “YES” on skipping the rest of winter and having summer instead. Not sure if God laughed or not, but apparently His vote counts as more than ours, ’cause when we woke up it was even colder! So I decided to list of a few of my favorite things of the moment to lift the spirits a bit. I refuse to give in to the winter doldrums… life is too good to be bummed! 

A Few of My Favorite Things

1. Tea. My favorite is Constant Comment which I always make at home. But my friend, Gari, makes delicious Jasmine tea when I go to her house, and it is quickly climbing the charts. 

2. Reconnecting with old friends. Kindred Spirits… memory lane… chattering and catching up… laughing until your sides hurt.

3. Knitting. I’m finally done practicing and I’m ready to actually make something! (I think.)

4. Sunlight. I guess if it has to be chilly, I am grateful for sunny blue skies that bring some joy to my day. One of the things I love about our home so much is the many windows that allow the sunlight in at any point of the day. My kitties love to nap all day in puddles of sunshine. 

5. The Bible. The Word has just been coming alive to me more and more lately. I love to read the beautiful poetry of the Psalms, and the New Testament has been like a sword… separating the truth from the darkness in my life. 

6. Reading. One very good thing about winter is that it allows a very good excuse to stay cozy inside with a good book. My favorite so far being “Listening Prayer”, now I am on “The Full Blessing of Pentecost” by Andrew Murray and finally finishing up “This Day We Fight” by Francis Frangipane. (And I’ve had a little Jane Austen thrown in here and there!)

7. My Hubby. I live with an eternal optimist. Nothing can get this guy down! He’s my steady freddy. I love to be married to a man who makes me laugh all the time. 

8. Planning my flower gardens. Hydrangeas, Larkspur, Foxgloves, Snapdragons, Lupines, Sweet Peas, Hollyhocks, Delphiniums, Phlox, Hyacinths, Peonies… I know I won’t get it all done this summer, but I’m ready to get started on my English garden. I can’t wait to be surrounded by beautiful color. One of my favorite little signs that I saw in a shop once read, “I shan’t go to town today, for my Hollyhocks are in bloom.” I should have bought it. 

9. My family. I don’t know how I would survive the long winter without my family close by. We use ANY excuse for a party: “Lord of the Rings” Parties, Superbowl Parties, “Friends” nites every friday night, Oscar Parties, etc. It gives us something to look forward to during the long winter months. This coming weekend is Jamie’s Birthday Party. He’s bringing home his fabulous birthday present… I’ll see if I can get some pictures. 

10. My Kitties. My little friends in fur pajamas. They don’t have attitudes like normal cats. They come when you call. They follow me everywhere. They “talk” to us. They understand what I’m saying. Well. Some words anyway. Really! I’m not kidding. And I’m not biased or anything… well, not much anyway. 

See? There’s really so much to be grateful for. Thank you, God. I don’t care a stitch about the cold weather anymore. 

“It’s really the cat’s house… we just pay the mortgage.”

- Lexie Saige

“To be married to a man who makes you laugh every day,
ah, now that’s a real treat.”

- Joanne Woodward

I love you, Mark Dillon! Forever and ever!

… could I please have this house for Christmas? Pretty Please?! Or at least all the resources to make ours look exactly like this? I’d be forever grateful.

Sincerely Yours, 

Melissa J. Dillon